Hampton Roads
Financial
Executives Forum
The Advisor April 2008
Greetings UPCOMING EVENTS
Welcome to this issue of The Advisor. We have April 24, 2008
some intriguing topics coming up including Speaker: Mr. Jim Flinchum, Managing Principal,
Bay Capital Advisors
“Globalization: It’s Here, It’s Powerful, It Can Topic: “Globalization: It’s Here, It’s Powerful, It can
Be Profitable” presented by Jim Flinchum, be Profitable.”
Managing Principal, Bay Capital Advisors, Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 am
“Economic Development” presented by
Warren Harris, Dir. of Economic Development, City May 22, 2008
Speaker: Mr. Warren Harris, Director of Economic
of Virginia Beach and “Professional Ethics”
Development, City of Virginia Beach
presented by Dr. Doug Ziengefuss, Professor & Topic: Economic Development
Chair of Accounting Department, ODU. Last year Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
was very successful and we look forward to
making this year even better. June 26, 2008
Speaker: Dr. Ziengefuss, Accounting Chair, ODU
Topic: Professional Ethics
All HRFEF meetings are held at the Holiday Inn Time: 11:15 am - 2 pm (2 CPE credits)
Executive Center on Greenwich Road and each
meeting will qualify for one hour of CPE credits Breakfast meetings are $20 and lunch meetings are $25
to be paid at the door. No Shows will be billed. Please
unless otherwise noted. RSVP to Jackie Cowan, Don Richard
Associates 757.518.8600 or cowanj@donrichard.com
In order to assist you in planning a preliminary
schedule is included. Please remember that you
may bring members of your staff to the meeting How to Get People to Be More Accountable
or send someone in your place if you are unable to and Responsible
attend. Also, we currently have over 430 financial by Jim Ball, CEO, The Goals Institute
executives on our list but feel free to forward this
to any of your contemporaries at other companies As David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the
United States put it, “A name change is a small step,
if your think they would like to be included. We but it does speak to a larger issue.” The larger issue is
look forward to seeing you at our upcoming “measuring government’s performance and holding it
meetings. accountable for results.”
Being accountable and responsible are important in all
aspects of business and life. In fact, I would say that
Ed Greene, CEO one of the biggest shortcomings in business today is
Don Richard Associates that individuals do not hold themselves responsible for
their actions and work and neither do the individuals
who are supervising them.
Continued on next page...
Jim Ball, continued from page 1
Let me provide an example of a small infraction Top 7 Ways To Inspire Confidence In Your
that hints to the depth of the bigger cultural and People/Team
leadership problem underlying it.
1. CATCH them doing something right, and immediately
How Important is a Name Badge? praise them.
While visiting with a team of individuals who run a 2. Because they look up to you, you need to set the
chain of health and fitness centers, we learned that example, and set the standards in the organization.
each associate is required to wear a standard name
badge at all times. 3. Confidence happens when folks feel good about
As I looked around, I noticed 2 associates without themselves. Make sure that you hire a team, free of
name badges. The conversation went like this: drugs, such as alcohol, crack, or any other mind-
“Why do those individuals not have name badges?” controlling negative drug.
“They probably lost them or left them on their shirts
at home. It happens a lot.” 4. BEGIN each morning with physiology exercises, to get
“I don’t understand. I thought it was company everyone’s heart pumping, which will raise their self
policy that all associates were to have name badges esteem.
on at all times.”
“That is definitely our policy. But it is hard to 5. Guard your discussions. Talk of the positive is
enforce.” important, but when negative issues are addressed, as
I could not understand why it would be hard to they must be from time to time, make sure you outline
enforce the wearing of a name badge. or leave the session talking about what can and will be
done, from a positive angle. Remember that not
But what I could understand, completely, is that if everyone, is as secure as yourself, about the future.
you cannot or do not hold someone accountable
for wearing a name badge, then it is going to be 6. Break things down into easy to understand steps, so
next to impossible to try and hold them account- that your team can have hundreds of SMALL successes,
able for something more important, such as arriving which we all know build to great success :)
on time or smiling and being nice to customers.
7. Set behavioral standards in the workplace, which
Why It Is Important to Pay Attention to the does not allow self-defeating behavior from flourishing.
Details
www.top7business.com
There are at least 2 problems with having a name
badge policy or any other policy, practice, or proce-
dure and not holding people accountable for
complying with it.
The first problem is that a small infraction leads to
deterioration that is more serious. Once people get
away with not being accountable on small items,
they have a bolder propensity for not being ac-
countable on bigger and more important items.
The old cliche of giving someone an inch and having
them take a mile is an accurate observation.
The second problem is that when a leader or manag-
er ignores an obvious infraction like not wearing a
Continued on next page...
Jim Ball, continued from page 2
name badge, this has a way of eroding the integrity and authority of the leader. The leader’s words become
hollow and his or her actions speak loudly.
While it may seem extreme, I think the above company and leadership team would be better off to eliminate their
name badge policy than it would be to have a policy and not enforce it. If you are going to have a policy, then
enforce it. And if you are not going to enforce it, why have it?
This name badge example is only the metaphor for all the little things that leaders and managers let slip by
uncorrected. The problem is that one infraction or allowance of shoddy or inferior work is a chink in the armor of
an organization’s core culture.
In order to maintain standards of excellence and high quality the quote that “God is in the details” is true. In fact,
it is the details that send the loudest and most important signals to people.
Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that if you want people to be responsible and accountable for themselves, their
behavior, and the big stuff, then you need to start by holding them responsible and accountable for the
small stuff.
To paraphrase and embellish the words of the Comptroller General of the U.S., enforcing a policy of
wearing name badges is a small step, but it does speak loud and clear to the larger issues of having
people be responsible and holding them accountable.
James R. Ball, Jim to everyone, is president and CEO of the Goals Institute. The Goal Institute is
a company that helps organizations and the people in them achieve their goals and potential.
Jim is the an author, keynote speaker, seminar presenter and business consultant. The Goals
Institute publishes books and provides seminar on leadership, performance improvement, and
goal achievement. To learn more about Jim and the programs and services he and his company
provide email Jim at jimball@goalsinstitute.com or visit their website at www.goalpower.com.
Announcements
The current job market for Accounting and Finance Professionals in Hampton Roads is changing, which has
created a large number of challenging opportunities with companies in a variety of industries.
The labor market is tight with record low unemployment levels and a large portion of the workforce - The
Boomers - entering into retirement and leaving behind a significant amount of attractive positions immediately
available.
Attached is a listing of some of the positions we have available, if someone you know is looking for employment
please have them contact Liza Parker or go to www.donrichard.com to view more open positions.
We will be launching the new Don Richard Associates website soon in order to assist with any employment
needs you may have.
If you would like to be removed from future emails regarding HRFEF send an email with the subject line ‘Remove from HRFEF’ to greenee@donrichard.com
Current Opportunites
36862 - Assistant Controller - Large manufacturing company is looking for a well-rounded accounting pro-
fessional with experience handling multiple cost centers, preparing financial statements & monthly budgets,
and month-end closings. Interested candidates must have previous manufacturing, distribution or interna-
tional work experience. Knowledge of integrated ERP software and FAS depreciation is a plus. Strong super-
visory skills is required, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills.
37011- Bookkeeper/Office Manager - Reputable company seeks a full-charge Bookkeeper/Office Manager.
Must be well-versed in A/R, A/P, billing, job projections, and job costing time and materials. Construction
background is preferred. Responsibilities also include reconciling accounts, journal entries, and working
closely with vendors. Direct hire opportunity for this immediate need!
36996 - Senior Cost Analyst - Large government contractor seeks an accountant with a 4 year degree and
10 years experience to provide project analysis and indirect pool analysis for end users. Responsible for per-
forming monthly review of projects against budgets/cost proposals, preparing projections of revenue and
expenses, reviewing manning requirements against contract requirements and reviewing and reconciling bill-
ing for contract line items. Deltek/Costpoint experience strongly preferred. Government contract experience
including CASB requirements preferred. EXCELLENT BENEFIT PACKAGE!
37012 - Accounting/Administrative Manager - Don Richard Associates Corporate office has an excellent
internal opportunity in our Norfolk office for an experienced Manager to perform the accounting duties as-
sociated with running a small accounting department. This position requires a hands on manager to prepare
the bi-weekly payroll, post to the G/L, conduct month-end, quarterly and fiscal close. Coordinate with the P/R
service, audit time cards, bi-weekly billing, collections, financial reports, budgets, forecasts, benefits adminis-
tration, quarterly taxes, A/P & A/R. Supervise the administrative staff.
36997 - Senior Payroll Associate - 500 hourly and salaried employees. Ensures all appropriate taxes, deduc-
tions and contributions are withheld and w-2s issued. Files reports & makes payments to government agen-
cies, insurance carriers, etc. Recommends & implements changes in methods or procedures to improve the
payroll function. Must have large company payroll experience, knowledge of PeopleSoft preferred. CPP is
desirable. Good reporting experience is needed. Advanced Microsoft Word & Excel skills are required. Great
benefits and team environment in the Human Resources & Training department.
37013 - Controller - Growing Virginia Beach manufacturer/distributor looking for a dynamic and progressive
accounting professional who will oversee all accounting functions and staff. Candidates with public account-
ing backgrounds and who have strong knowledge and experience with internal controls, financial reporting,
strategic planning, managerial accounting and team building is highly desired. Familiarity with Microsoft
Dynamics is a huge plus. Great time to get into this successful company as it grows from a mid-size company
to a large company within the next few years.
If you or someone you know are interested in any of these positions please contact Liza Parker at 757-518-
8600. Please visit www.donrichard.com for additional career opportunities.